5 Best Pumpkin Patches With a Petting Zoo in California
Jump to: 1. Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze 2. J&J Pumpkins 3. The Pumpkin Factory 4. Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch 5. Great Pacific Pumpkins
The 5 best pumpkin patches with a petting zoo in California are Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, J&J Pumpkins, The Pumpkin Factory, Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch and Great Pacific Pumpkins — farms tagged for farm animals kids can get close to, alongside the pumpkins. For toddlers and preschoolers especially, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. Below, each gets a closer look — what it offers, how it's rated, and how to get there — followed by answers to the questions we hear most about visiting. See every pumpkin patch we track in California, or browse pumpkin patches with petting zoos in every state on our Petting Zoos and Farm Animals near me page.
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Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze in Galt takes the top spot, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 74 reviews. Visitors come here for corn maze and hayrides.
9420 Orr Rd, 95632
Corn mazeHayridesPetting zooKids play areaMike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze is ranked #1 on this list, located at 9420 Orr Rd, Galt, CA, 95632. It carries a 4.9-out-of-5 rating on Google from 74 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Galt. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo and kids play area, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Petting zoo, corn playground and bounce pads accompany pumpkin patches, face painting, hayrides and train rides." Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze is one of the farms we track with a corn maze, which typically means a corn maze is cut into a standing field in late summer and stays open until the stalks are harvested, which is why most mazes open a week or two after the pumpkin patch itself and close hard at the end of the season. si…
Hours aren't listed for Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze in our data. Most pumpkin patches run daily or weekends-only from mid-September through the first days of November, but the surest way to know is to call ahead or check the farm's website before you drive out. Admission pricing isn't listed for Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze sits, near Galt, CA, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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J&J Pumpkins
J&J Pumpkins, out in Willits, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviews. Visitors come here for petting zoo and kids play area.
19606 Walker Rd, 95490
Petting zooKids play areaJ&J Pumpkins is ranked #2 on this list, located at 19606 Walker Rd, Willits, CA, 95490. It carries a 4.8-out-of-5 rating on Google from 25 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Willits. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for petting zoo and kids play area, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for J&J Pumpkins yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Pumpkin patch with activities for kids such as bounce houses and a petting zoo." J&J Pumpkins is one of the farms we track with a petting zoo, which typically means for families with toddlers and preschoolers, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. most are included with admission; feed cups usually cost a dollar or two..
Hours aren't listed for J&J Pumpkins in our data. Most pumpkin patches run daily or weekends-only from mid-September through the first days of November, but the surest way to know is to call ahead or check the farm's website before you drive out. Admission pricing isn't listed for J&J Pumpkins either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for J&J Pumpkins can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
J&J Pumpkins sits, near Willits, CA, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on J&J Pumpkins's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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The Pumpkin Factory
The Pumpkin Factory near Corona rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 993 reviews. Visitors come here for petting zoo.
1545 Circle City Dr, 92879
Petting zooThe Pumpkin Factory is ranked #3 on this list, located at 1545 Circle City Dr, Corona, CA, 92879. It carries a 4.6-out-of-5 rating on Google from 993 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Corona. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for petting zoo, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for The Pumpkin Factory yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Fall attraction with pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, rides, and games." The Pumpkin Factory is one of the farms we track with a petting zoo, which typically means for families with toddlers and preschoolers, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. most are included with admission; feed cups usually cost a dollar or two..
Hours aren't listed for The Pumpkin Factory in our data. Most pumpkin patches run daily or weekends-only from mid-September through the first days of November, but the surest way to know is to call ahead or check the farm's website before you drive out. Admission pricing isn't listed for The Pumpkin Factory either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for The Pumpkin Factory can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
The Pumpkin Factory sits, near Corona, CA, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on The Pumpkin Factory's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch
Also worth the drive: Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch in Bakersfield, rated 4.5 out of 5 from 354 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and petting zoo.
10747 Taft Hwy, 93311
HayridesPetting zooBanducci's Family Pumpkin Patch is ranked #4 on this list, located at 10747 Taft Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, 93311. It carries a 4.5-out-of-5 rating on Google from 354 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Bakersfield. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides and petting zoo, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Seasonal spot for pumpkin picking in a maze, plus hayrides and animal attractions." Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch is one of the farms we track with a hayride, which typically means hayrides run on a loop from the barn out to the pumpkin field, typically ten to twenty minutes, and at many farms they are the only way to reach the picking field at all. some are free with admission, some are a few doll…
Based on its public listing, Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch is typically open Monday 10AM-8PM, Tuesday 10AM-8PM, Wednesday 10AM-8PM, Thursday 10AM-8PM, Friday 10AM-8PM, Saturday 9AM-8PM, Sunday 10AM-6PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch sits, near Bakersfield, CA, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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Great Pacific Pumpkins
Great Pacific Pumpkins in Ventura is another strong option, rated 4.4 out of 5 from 101 reviews. Visitors come here for petting zoo.
5100 Olivas Park Dr, 93003
Petting zooGreat Pacific Pumpkins is ranked #5 on this list, located at 5100 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura, CA, 93003. It carries a 4.4-out-of-5 rating on Google from 101 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Ventura. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for petting zoo, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Great Pacific Pumpkins yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Farm featuring fields of harvestable pumpkins, plus a maze and a petting zoo." Great Pacific Pumpkins is one of the farms we track with a petting zoo, which typically means for families with toddlers and preschoolers, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. most are included with admission; feed cups usually cost a dollar or two..
Hours aren't listed for Great Pacific Pumpkins in our data. Most pumpkin patches run daily or weekends-only from mid-September through the first days of November, but the surest way to know is to call ahead or check the farm's website before you drive out. Admission pricing isn't listed for Great Pacific Pumpkins either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Great Pacific Pumpkins can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Great Pacific Pumpkins sits, near Ventura, CA, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Great Pacific Pumpkins's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
Conclusion
Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze is our top pick for a pumpkin patch with a petting zoo in California, rated 4.9 out of 5, with J&J Pumpkins, The Pumpkin Factory, Banducci's Family Pumpkin Patch and Great Pacific Pumpkins rounding out the list. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and which animals are on site — and whether the barn is open that day — can vary week to week, so always confirm with the farm directly before you drive out. For more options, see every pumpkin patch we track in California.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pumpkin patch with a petting zoo in California?
Based on rating and review volume, Mike's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze ranks first among the pumpkin patches with a petting zoo we track in California, with a 4.9-out-of-5 rating. See the full breakdown above, or its full listing for hours and directions.
What animals are usually at a pumpkin patch petting zoo?
It varies by farm, but goats, sheep, alpacas, rabbits and barn cats are the most common. Larger farms sometimes add pigs, ponies or a small aviary. Feed cups are usually available for a dollar or two even when general admission is free.
Is the petting zoo included in admission?
At most farms, yes — the animal barn is bundled into general admission rather than ticketed separately. It's still worth confirming when you call, since a minority of larger destination farms do charge extra for it.
Are petting zoos safe for toddlers?
Generally yes, with normal precautions. Well-run farms provide hand-washing stations near the animal area and it's worth using them properly — animal contact areas are a recognized source of E. coli and salmonella exposure in young children. Strollers are frequently not permitted inside the enclosure itself, so plan for carrying.
Are these pumpkin patches good for young kids?
Yes — a petting zoo is one of the two features (alongside a dedicated kids' play area) that most reliably holds a toddler's or preschooler's attention. Check the listings above for hours, and call ahead if you're planning specifically around animal-barn access.